Hello, I replaced some rear hooks on some Rebel Pop-R's , and tied some white buck tail and pearl flashabou. I'm told that bucktail won't attract bass like feahers will and should use feathers.  Is this opinion or fact ? Do bass even look that close or care ? I lost the feathers on them before and still caught bass with them, bare hooks. Any thoughts on the subject ? -Thanks

I read on KVD's blog that he uses only chicken feathers. He  then uses sharpie color markers, if he he wants to alter the white feathers that are most commonly used by tackle suppliers.

Feathers

Feathers. Nothing beats the action of maribou in the water.

Feathers.

Zell Roland told us about this at the old Bassmasters University.

I change them out on the topwaters.

Usually it is a white feather. 

Personally, I like synthetic crimped material for topwaters instead of natural hair (bucktail, calftail etc) or I use feathers or a combination of both.

IMHO, the rear hook on a topwater is like a rutter and natural hair tends to hold more water and weighs the rear hook down which tends to take away from the lures action.

If I tie feathers, synthetics or both, I tend to keep it on the sparse side but yet enough to add to the profile of the bait, if that makes sense to you. I can pm a pic if you want.

Whatever you use, especially natural hair, don't over do it. It's real easy to do.

Both work fine.

Feathers.

I don't think anything moves like maribou in the water. When a bait is still that stuff just keeps moving. However I think actual maribou is no longer available and something else has been substituted, but I don't think there is a lot of difference. I tie it on all of mine.